Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday said that Haryana has firmly established itself as a powerhouse of sports, producing not only crops but also champions. The state is no longer known solely as the land of farmers and soldiers, it has earned a distinct national identity as a land of sports.
From the National Games to the Olympics, the state’s strong presence is being felt across the sporting landscape. The government’s resolve, he said, is to ensure that no talented sports person is left behind due to lack of resources, he added.
The Chief Minister was addressing a large gathering at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Gurugram, after inaugurating the Chief Minister’s Cup and distributing awards to medal winners of the 38th National Games. On the occasion, he disbursed prize money worth approximately ₹24 crore to 417 medal winners and participating players of the National Games and also honoured Padma Shri awardee and Indian women’s hockey team goalkeeper Savita Punia.
He described the event as a celebration of Haryana’s sporting talent, discipline, hard work and determination, adding that the sacred land of Gurugram was witnessing two major sporting celebrations simultaneously. Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh, Pataudi MLA Bimla Chaudhary, Additional Chief Secretary (Sports) Vijay Singh Dahiya, Sports Director Parth Gupta and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Saini said that sports platforms give wings to the dreams of the youth and athletes carry the resolve to take the nation’s pride to new heights. He noted that Haryana’s players delivered an outstanding performance in the 38th National Games held in Uttarakhand. A total of 689 players from the state participated in 33 sports disciplines and won 153 medals, including 48 gold, 47 silver and 58 bronze medals, reflecting years of dedication, sacrifice and perseverance.
He said sportspersons are a source of inspiration for society. Under the state government’s incentive policy, gold medal winners of the National Games are being awarded ₹7 lakh, silver medal winners ₹5 lakh and bronze medal winners ₹3 lakh, while all participants are being given ₹51,000 each as encouragement. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to parents and coaches whose guidance and motivation enabled athletes to bring laurels to the state and the nation.
Encouraging participants of the Chief Minister’s Cup, he said around 3,600 players are taking part in six sports disciplines in the three-day competition. Cash prizes of ₹1 lakh for gold, ₹70,000 for silver and ₹50,000 for bronze winners will be awarded. He said the CM Cup reflects the government’s vision of identifying and nurturing sporting talent from every village and city. Wrestlers, boxers, athletes, shooters and hockey players from Haryana continue to make the country proud, he added.
The Chief Minister further said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, initiatives such as Khelo India and Fit India have given a new direction to the sports culture in the country. Sports are no longer just a competition but have become a powerful medium of nation-building. He advised athletes to uphold discipline, humility and patriotism, to remain undeterred by defeat and grounded in victory.
The Chief Minister said that sports infrastructure is being expanded continuously across the state. A Sports University has been established at Rai in Sonipat district. At present, Haryana has three state-level sports complexes, 21 district stadiums, 25 sub-division stadiums, 163 Rajiv Gandhi Rural Sports Complexes, 245 rural stadiums and 382 indoor gyms in villages. In addition, 10 swimming pools, 11 synthetic athletics tracks, 14 hockey astro turfs, two synthetic football fields and nine multipurpose halls have been developed. Facilitation centres have also been set up in 16 districts at a cost of ₹3 crore.
He said sports equipment is being provided under the Haryana Sports Equipment Provision Scheme, benefiting 15,634 players so far. Currently, 1,472 sports nurseries are operational across the state, where over 37,000 children receive regular training. Financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month is being given to players aged 8–14 years and ₹2,000 per month to those aged 15–19 years.
To ensure secure futures for athletes, the Haryana Outstanding Sportsperson Service Rules, 2021, have been implemented. Under these rules, 550 new posts have been created in the Sports Department and 231 sportspersons have been provided government jobs. A rehabilitation centre has also been started at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Panchkula.
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Gaurav Gautam said that the day would be etched in golden letters in the country’s sports history, as hundreds of players were honoured on a single platform. Of the 689 Haryana players who participated in the 38th National Games, 153 won medals, enhancing the pride of both the state and the nation.
Referring to Mission Olympics 2036, the Sports Minister said that the combined efforts of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister are shaping Haryana into a global sporting power. Through initiatives such as Khelo India, TOPS, CM Cup, sports nurseries, academies and Mission Olympics 2036 ‘Vijayi Bhav’, athletes are being provided with robust and sustainable platforms.